Darlington Railway Town

Julie Macbean, Crown Street Art Gallery Exhibition, 2013

Darlington has a significant role in railway heritage, with the bi-centenary of the first railway passenger journey on Locomotion No. 1 on the Stockton & Darlington railway in 1825 fast approaching in 2025, two active railway stations, Bank Top and North Road, the Head of Steam railway museum and a number of key buildings and sites, including the track-bed of the Stockton & Darlington railway running through the borough. The railways, both in Darlington and worldwide, have been a rich source of inspiration for creative practice and exploration, helping people travel and explore, meet new people, exchange ideas, visit new places, as regular commuters or on journeys home.

Creative Darlington has supported a number of artists and been involved in promoting programmes or events creatively exploring our railway heritage, including performing arts and visual arts activity. An example of which can be found here. Cath Campbell created miniature models of railway stations linked to the story of Elizabeth Bidder who, at 18 years old became part of a ship’s crew accompanying Robert Stephenson.

In 2014-15 artist Sara Cooper worked with a local primary school as part of her Collections artist-led project. Pupils explored the Head of Steam Museum, made maps of their walks around the collection and created artworks in response to railway artefacts and stories.

Artists, including Julie Macbean and Stephen Bainbridge have also developed and shared exhibitions informed by railways in Crown Street Art Gallery. The Head of Steam railway museum programmes regular exhibitions and events, frequently involving practicing artists and organisations.

In 2017/18, 2018/19 and 2019/20 Darlington Borough Council is supporting the Tees Valley Great Place programme exploring aspects of our heritage, including both railway heritage in Tees Valley and the local heritage of communities located in close proximity to the track bed of the Stockton & Darlington railway. Creative Darlington developed this proposal, and Darlington Borough Council will work with various organisations including Groundwork and Tees Valley Arts to programme activity.